July 28

 Simon Kirke

July 28, 1949

The powerhouse drumming of Simon Kirke provided the bedrock for two of the most influential hard rock bands of the era. He anchored Free as an official member from 1968 to 1973, driving their minimalistic blues-rock sound. His steady, heavy beat on the massive hit All Right Now helped propel the group to global stardom.

When Free disbanded, he immediately co-founded Bad Company, occupying the drum throne as an official member from 1973 to 1999 and returning for later tours. He fueled a relentless string of multi-platinum albums with his straightforward, hard-hitting style. He also contributed occasional rhythm guitar parts and co-wrote several classic tracks for the group, including the charting single Bad Company. He continued recording and touring with the band well into the twenty-first century.

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Richard Wright

July 28, 1943 – September 15, 2008

The cinematic keyboard textures of Richard Wright became a defining pillar of Pink Floyd, elevating their sound into a global phenomenon. He anchored the progressive rock giants as an official member from 1965 to 1979 and later rejoined the lineup from 1987 to 1994. His lush organ, synthesizer, and piano layers provided the atmospheric foundation for their landmark albums. He also contributed distinctive lead and backing vocals that blended perfectly with the band's sonic landscapes.

His understated songwriting and mastery of electronic textures helped shape their masterworks. He co-wrote epic compositions like Echoes and Shine On You Crazy Diamond while also composing the multi-part instrumental track The Great Gig in the Sky. He guided the group through shifting sonic eras, steering their music from psychedelic whimsy into massive, stadium-filling conceptual art pieces like The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. Beyond his essential contributions to his primary band, he released solo albums from 1978 to 1996 and formed the short-lived collaborative project Zee.

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